The British Are Crazy

This is a discussion on The British Are Crazy within the Off Topic & Humor Discussion forums, part of the The Back Porch category; From The Times
March 11, 2008
’Simon de Bruxelles
Fire extinguishers may be removed from blocks of flats across Britain after they were deemed dangerous ...

The British Are Crazy

’Simon de Bruxelles
Fire extinguishers may be removed from blocks of flats across Britain after they were deemed dangerous by buildings risk assessors at two blocks on the South Coast.

Many residents regard the distinctive red extinguishers as the first response to fire, giving vital time until professional firefighters arrive.

But a review of two residential blocks in Bournemouth has raised concerns that householders could delay their escape to tackle a blaze. There is also concern that the use of extinguishers by untrained people could add to the danger.

The report has the backing of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and extinguishers have already been removed from the two blocks – Admirals Walk and the 10-storey Avon House.

Under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 the managing agents of every private block of flats must hire professional assessors to carry out a risk assessment .

Residents of Admirals Walk were informed in a letter from their managing agents that “unless all residents are trained to operate the fire extinguishers, there is no legal requirement to maintain these in communal areas of residential blocks”.

Hamilton Townsend, managing agents for Avon House, confirmed that the recommendation was to remove extinguishers.

Pete Whittaker, the protection policy manager at Dorset Fire and Rescue, said: “As part of the assessment, the assessors now look to see whether fire extinguishers are actually required in that particular block. In some cases, they are no longer needed and provide more of a hazard being there.

“We do not want to encourage people to leave their flat to fetch a fire extinguisher from a hallway and then return to a blaze. We want people to get out safely.

“Obviously in some cases, an extinguisher could come in useful in a communal area but with new building regulations, every escape route should be completely fireproof. It very much depends on the individual property and what the assessor believes is the correct course of action.”

Residents described the ban as ridiculous. Mike Edwards, a 61-year-old retired printer who lives in Avon House, said: “I was absolutely staggered to discover the fire extinguishers were to be taken out. How can removing fire extinguishers be a safe decision?

“The risk assessor said an extinguisher could cause a hazard if the person using it has not been trained. They are worried they will point it in the wrong direction or use the wrong extinguishers on a certain type of fire but if you are trapped in a burning building, you will certainly work out how to use an extinguisher.

“Our eldest resident is 103 but even she said she could quickly work out how to use an extinguisher in an emergency.” He added: “Our block is very high and there is one fire extinguisher in the communal area on every floor. People feel safe knowing they are there. The fire service can’t quickly get their equipment above the eighth floor. If someone is trapped above that level, are they just expected to sit and burn?”

A man fires a rifle for many years, and he goes to war. And afterward he turns the rifle in at the armory, and he believes he's finished with the rifle. But no matter what else he might do with his hands - love a woman, build a house, change his son's diaper - his hands remember the rifle.

This presupposes that all fires have zero chance of being stopped early. A ban on fire extinguishers will merely flip the coin, resulting in nearly all fires whipping into blazes that demolish entire structures.

“I was absolutely staggered to discover the fire extinguishers were to be taken out. How can removing fire extinguishers be a safe decision?"

It can't be, unless it's a two-ton extinguisher that would otherwise have been blocking your exit path. In which case, it's probably perfectly sufficient to fight the fire, early on.

There are so many flaws in this thought process that it's hard to believe anyone outside of a mental institution could think it up, much less agree with it.

For example - "We do not want to encourage people to leave their flat to fetch a fire extinguisher from a hallway and then return to a blaze." Does the mere presence of a fire extinguisher "encourage" people to do this, or does the absense of a fire extinguisher remove all other options? Does a fork "encourage" people to overeat? Does a bathing suit "encourage" people to go out in the snow in their shorts?

Apparently, being in a position of authority in the UK these days "encourages" stupidity...

A man fires a rifle for many years, and he goes to war. And afterward he turns the rifle in at the armory, and he believes he's finished with the rifle. But no matter what else he might do with his hands - love a woman, build a house, change his son's diaper - his hands remember the rifle.

Pretty soon the Brits will have there population so helpless they won't be able to have an independent thought.

I believe, after being there a while, that this is exactly what the people running the government are hoping for. Read the book 1984 and you will pretty much see the overall goal of the "powers that be" in the UK.

So much for using the argument "You don't expect a fire to happen, but you have a fire extinguisher just in case. Thats why we have firearms, just in case." Maybe they saw that the logic in that argument was too true